Break out the pumpkin spice lattes, put up the Halloween decorations, get ready to dance along with your favorite characters, and more! We’re rounding up our favorite events, parades, shows, and family-friendly activities happening all across New York City this October.
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New York Family’s Top Picks for October
Día de los Muertos at NYBG
New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx
Oct. 3 – Nov. 2, Tuesdays – Sundays, 10 am – 6 pm
All ages
Included with admission: $15 – $39
For the first time at the garden, experience the rich traditions of Día de los Muertos, featuring vibrant marigolds and a colorful community ofrenda in a celebration of memory, life, and renewal. Friendly spirit guides lead the way to joyful encounters with artfully arranged calaveras and a larger-than-life Catrina adorned with colorful flowers. Celebrate loved ones with music and crafts on weekends, while experiencing moments of reflection among fall’s golden foliage and festive pumpkins.
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Live
Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn
Thursday, Oct. 8, 7 – 9 pm
All ages
Tickets start at $47
Filled with music, laughter and imagination, this all-new musical stage adventure, based on the Emmy-winning Apple TV series, welcomes audiences on a joyful, nostalgia filled trip to Fraggle Rock! The show features gorgeous new walk-around versions of the Fraggles, puppet-sized Doozers, an appearance from a giant Gorg, and exclusive new wondrous puppet creatures all from the acclaimed Jim Henson’s Creature Shop.
Halloween on the Farm
Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Queens
Saturday, Oct. 31, 10 am – 5 pm
All ages
$24
Wear your costume and head to the farm for a Halloween spooktacular featuring Monster Mash dancing, spooky ghost stories, trick-or-treating, The Amazing Maize Maze, hayrides, a pumpkin patch, fall photo ops, and more!
New York Family’s Top FREE Picks for October
Celebración Latina Block Party
Ballet Hispánico, 167 W 89th St., Manhattan
Sunday, Oct. 4, noon – 4 pm
All ages
Free
Join Ballet Hispánico New York for an afternoon of performances and dance classes, live music, family-friendly activities, local vendors, food, and community celebration.
Bronx Night Market
161st St. & Grand Concourse, Bronx
Friday, Oct. 10, noon – 7 pm
All ages
Free admission
Advanced registration required
This open-air food festival features 50+ vendors representing more than 40 countries, Bronx makers, and DJs, live bands and cultural performances all afternoon.
Healthy Path Foundation Fall Festival
Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, 1000 Richmond Terr., Staten Island
Saturday, Oct. 17, noon
All ages
Free; $10 suggested donation.
This annual fall festival features local vendors and activities for kids. Discover how nutrition & physical activity go hand in hand in building lifelong health.
More of New York Family’s Favorite October Events
Bronx Zoo Boo at the Zoo
Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx
Saturdays and Sundays, 10 am – 5:30 pm, through Nov. 1; Monday, Oct. 12, 10 am – 5:30 pm
All ages
Tickets start at $27.20
The Bronx Zoo’s beloved Boo at the Zoo festival returns, now with more chances to discover the wonders of wildlife through play, sensory exploration, and up-close access to animal experts in one of New York’s most charming autumn destinations. Boo at the Zoo provides families with a full day of fall adventure among 265 acres of park and with more than 11,000 animals. The debut of engaging elements like the Hay Maze & Challenge Course and Boo Carnival games station invite kinesthetic fun, while Animal Chats welcome guests to learn directly from Bronx Zoo wildlife experts about fascinating species.
Sesame Street Live: Elmo’s Got the Moves
St. George Theatre, 35 Hyatt St., Staten Island
Friday, Oct. 2, 6 pm
Ages 8 and younger
Tickets start at $39
Families will be moving and dancing along with Elmo and his Sesame Street friends as they dance, stretch, and play along to fan-favorite songs, including “Sunny Days,” “Elmo’s Got the Moves,” and “Letter of the Day.”
5th Annual Rockaway Dog Parade
94th Street Amphitheater, Beach 94th St. & Shorefront Parkway, Queens
Saturday, Oct. 3, noon – 2 pm
All ages
$5
The beach is going to the dogs in the best way possible with an unforgettable afternoon of costumes, community, music, and canine celebration. This year’s whimsical theme, “Under the Sea,” invites dogs and their humans to dress as mermaids, sailors, sea creatures, pirates, tropical fish, and ocean-inspired characters for one of New York City’s most joyful pet-friendly events.
Brooklyn Charter School Fair & Kids Activity Expo
Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Community Center, 1561 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn
Saturday, Oct. 3, noon – 3 pm
All ages
Free
Register in advance
The Brooklyn Charter School Fair & Kids Activity Expo, hosted by Brooklyn Family, will be a special afternoon where charter school representatives, afterschool programs, and community and family resources come together under one roof! Learn about Brooklyn charter schools, ask questions, and even complete same-day applications, while discovering afterschool activities, community resources, support services, health and wellness programs, and more. Plus, there will be plenty of fun to be had, including games, interactive activities, and giveaways for kids and families.
ShopRite Kidz Cook: Cowboy Caviar
Staten Island Children’s Museum, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Building M, Staten Island
Sunday, Oct. 4, noon, 1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm
Ages 4 and older
Included with admission: $10
Kids and their grown-ups will join the ShopRite Kidz Cook team to chop veggies, combine them with beans, corn, and garnishes, then add tortilla chips to create their own Cowboy Caviar dish.
8th Annual Lighthouse Point Fest
National Lighthouse Museum, 200 The Promenade at Lighthouse Point, Staten Island
Sunday, Oct. 4, noon – 5 pm
All ages
$3; free for children younger than 12
This fun-filled day for the whole family features live performing artists, a magician, and activities for kids. Your admission also includes entry to the National Lighthouse Museum, where you can explore the fascinating history of America’s lighthouses and the people who kept their lights shining. Plus, enjoy a delicious People’s Choice Soup Contest, featuring friendly competition between local international restaurants and fire departments. Sample the soups and cast your vote for your favorite!
89th Annual Pulaski Day Parade
Parade begins at 5th Ave. and 41st. St., Manhattan
Sunday, Oct. 4, 12:30 pm
All ages
Free
The 89th Annual Pulaski Day Parade, honors the legacy of General Casimir Pulaski, who sacrificed his life for America’s independence and freedom. As the oldest ethnic parade established in the 20th century and the second oldest in New York City history, it continues to celebrate the rich cultural heritage and the significant contributions made in all aspects of American society. The parade will feature government leaders, first responders, classic cars, motorcycle groups, marching bands, festive floats, and so much more!
31st Annual Panamanian Parade
Parade begins at Franklin Ave. And Bergen St., Brooklyn
Saturday, Oct. 10, 10 am
All ages
Free
Be there for the largest Panamanian parade in the world, outside of the Republic of Panama, to celebrate and honor the leaders, educators, artists, and celebrities that have left a cultural footprint on this nation. The parade features a diverse range of participants, including community organizations, folkloric groups, schools, marching bands, and elected officials from the U.S. and Panamá.
Celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Brooklyn
Oct. 11 – 12, Sunday and Monday, 10 am – 5 pm
Ages 10 and younger
$15
Join Native artists sharing their living traditions in this two-day celebration of Indigenous cultures! Take part in Haudenosaunee social dances, create your own beadwork and pottery, learn traditional mush making, and shop at our Native artisan marketplace. Presented with the North American Indigenous Center of New York.
Harvest Festival
The Vander Ende-Onderdonk House, 1820 Flushing Ave., Queens
Sunday, Oct. 11, noon – 4 pm
All ages
$10; free for children younger than 12
Celebrate autumn with fun for the whole family, including complimentary pumpkins for kids (with advance registration of a free children’s ticket), arts & crafts, games, butter churning, apple pressing for cider, and more!
Plim Plim en Vivo!
Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, 250 Bedford Park Blvd. West, Bronx
Sunday, Oct. 11, 1 pm & 3 pm
Ages 10 and younger
Tickets start at $29; $10 ages 10 and younger
Join Plim Plim and all his friends for a magical live adventure! Filled with music, laughter, colorful characters, and valuable lessons about friendship, kindness, and healthy habits, Plim Plim en Vivo brings the beloved children’s phenomenon from the screen to the stage in an exciting interactive experience for the whole family. Featuring dazzling costumes, energetic choreography, and the songs that millions of children know and love, this heartwarming production will delight young audiences while creating unforgettable memories for parents and caregivers alike.
Columbus Day Parade
Parade runs along 5th Ave. Bet. 44th St. and 72nd St., Manhattan
Monday, Oct. 12, 11:30 am – 3:30 pm
All ages
Free
Join this grand celebration of Italian-American pride and heritage as Fifth Avenue comes alive for the iconic Columbus Day Parade. Join the Columbus Citizens Foundation for a stirring day of pageantry, tradition, and community—honoring history, culture, and the enduring contributions of Italian Americans in New York and beyond.
Rosie Revere, Ada Twist, and Iggy Peck: The Questioneers
The New Victory Theater, 209 W 42nd St., Manhattan
Oct. 17 – 25, Saturdays and Sundays, 11 am – noon & 4 – 5 pm
Ages 4 and older
$25
When Miss Greer’s second-grade class gets marooned on an island, who will save the day? Three out-of-the-box thinkers, of course—Rosie Revere, Ada Twist, and Iggy Peck: The Questioneers! Based on the bestselling STEM-centric book series, this original musical sees everyone’s favorite kid engineer, scientist, and architect team up to tackle big problems with ingenuity, cooperation, and a measure of encouragement from the adults in their lives.
Queens Museum October Family Day
Queens Museum, 111-01 Corona Ave., Queens
Sunday, Oct. 18, 1 – 4 pm
All ages
Pay-what-you-wish suggested $6-$8; free for children 12 and younger
Join Family Day at the Queens Museum for drop-in artmaking workshops and a featured performance of “Woody Guthrie’s Songs to Grow On,” a production by New York City Children’s Theater. This 40-minute interactive theater experience is created especially for children ages 2–5, while offering something delightful for audiences of all ages. The production introduces young audiences to Guthrie’s music while exploring curiosity, empathy, and community through playful, hands-on engagement.
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